Performance Overview of the INSPIRE Scheme
The Ministry of Science & Technology, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, presented detailed statistics for the three financial years 2023‑24, 2024‑25 and 2025‑26. The data cover the four major components – INSPIRE‑MANAK, INSPIRE‑SHE, INSPIRE Fellowship and INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship. The scheme aims to nurture scientific talent from school to research.
Key Developments (2023‑26)
- Overall students participated in INSPIRE‑MANAK rose from 8.55 lakh (2023‑24) to 11.47 lakh (2025‑26), covering 719 to 729 districts.
- Number of schools involved increased from 2.24 lakh to 2.75 lakh over the same period.
- Targeted outreach in rural and government schools led to a steady rise in participation from remote districts.
- State‑wise support peaked in Andhra Pradesh (≈ 4.5 k MANAK beneficiaries in 2023‑24), Rajasthan (≈ 6.8 k) and Uttar Pradesh (≈ 7.2 k).
- Special focus districts – Palnadu, Nabarangpur and Bulandshahr received detailed monitoring.
Important Facts & Figures
INSPIRE‑MANAK:
- 2023‑24: 8,54,553 students, 2,24,283 schools, 719 districts.
- 2024‑25: 10,13,229 students, 2,53,459 schools, 723 districts.
- 2025‑26: 11,47,343 students, 2,74,528 schools, 729 districts.
State‑wise snapshot (2023‑24 to 2025‑26):
- Andhra Pradesh: MANAK beneficiaries 4,530 → 3,424; SHE scholarships 0 → 0; Fellowships 35 → 22; Faculty Fellowships 1 → 6.
- Uttar Pradesh: MANAK 1,940 → 7,173; SHE 3,297 → 5,474; Fellowships 56 → 64; Faculty Fellowships 11 → 15.
District‑level data (selected districts):
- Palnadu: MANAK participants 111 → 163; SHE – none.
- Nabarangpur: MANAK participants 149 → 72; SHE – none.
- Bulandshahr: MANAK 20 → 140; SHE 13 → 7.
Outreach mechanisms include regular meetings with State and District Nodal Officers, teacher‑training workshops, multimedia campaigns, and mentorship through ATLs. Selected students receive ₹10,000 for prototype development, mentorship from IIT/NIT faculty, and support for patent filing and incubation.
Exam Relevance
The scheme illustrates how the government operationalises its science & technology policy (GS3) by creating a talent pipeline, promoting inclusive innovation, and linking education with research. Understanding the structure of INSPIRE‑MANAK and the scholarship/fellowship components helps answer questions on skill‑development programmes, rural outreach, and inter‑ministerial coordination (GS2). The data also serve as a case study for evaluating the effectiveness of centrally‑funded schemes.
Way Forward
- Strengthen monitoring by integrating real‑time dashboards for district‑level performance.
- Expand mentorship networks with more premier institutions and industry partners.
- Introduce a dedicated grant for prototype commercialization to translate ideas into startups.
- Continue focused outreach in underserved districts like Nabarangpur to bridge the urban‑rural gap.
Overall, the INSPIRE Scheme demonstrates a systematic approach to building India’s scientific manpower, a key agenda for the nation’s future growth.